Metropolitan Petar, Bishop of the Prespa-Pelagonia diocese, is stepping out of the standing working composition of the Holy Hierarchical Synod of the MOC-OA. Metropolitan Naum of Strumica has been chosen to take his place, with Metropolitan Pimen of Europe as his deputy. The decision was taken at the 26 May session.

An important clarification: this is not a disciplinary expulsion or suspension. All bishops remain part of the full composition of the Synod. What has changed is the working body between full sessions - that is, the circle of bishops that makes day-to-day decisions between the larger gatherings. The new working composition will be led by Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid and Macedonia, alongside Metropolitans Naum and Agatangel of Povardarie.

The context is not trivial. The selection comes at a moment when Bishop Petar had been publicly raising questions about the functioning of the church, the running of the dioceses, relations between the bishops, and the status of the newly formed dioceses. With his exit from the working body, those criticisms are pushed to the margins of decision-making - at least formally.

At the same time, the Synod is forming a special commission to examine the material and financial situation of the newly formed dioceses, and a fund to support families with several children. The first act of the new working composition. And the first test of whether internal tensions inside the MOC-OA will be settled quietly, or spill over further.